Sinner and Saint

Slave to Sin

Reformation 2010

John 8:31-36

“Slave to sin”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

            When the founders of the United States drew up the Declaration of Independence and framed the Constitution, they adopted Luther’s principles [although not his Theology]. This has been freely admitted by many great leaders of our country. Daniel Webster said, “The Reformation of Martin Luther introduced the principles of civil liberty into the wilderness of North America.” President McKinley said, “Luther gave us civil and religious liberty.” Henry Ward Beecher said, “Our civil liberty is the result of the open Bible, which Luther gave us.”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (Declaration of Independence as originally written by Thomas Jefferson, 1776. ME 1:29, Papers 1:315) The Bill of Rights guarantee freedom of the Press, of Assembly, to Petition, of Speech, of Religion, the right to bear arms and have a state militia, the freedom not to quarter soldiers in peacetime, the right to privacy, the need for a search warrant and probable cause, rights in legal procedures (grand jury, due process, lawyer), the right to a speedy and public trial, no excessive bails or fines, no cruel or unusual punishment, and other rights.

            “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” (John 8:31-33)

            How many of you know the story of the Israelites? What were the Jews considered when they were held captive in Egypt? (Slaves) Later in history the Jews were held in captivity by the Babylonians; in the same way what were they considered? (Slaves) What about us? What are we considered?

             In our country we have the freedom to choose how we live. We have the freedom to abort as many babies as we want. We have the freedom to commit adultery. We have the freedom to choose our own sexuality. We have the freedom to drink too much. We have the freedom to…[fill in the blank]. All of these things done with many defending it as the pursuit of happiness. Yet we are not free. No; we are slaves. Many may argue we are Americans. We are not slaves to anyone! We are Thomas Jefferson’s sons; we are George Washington’s sons, We are Abraham Lincoln’s sons…we are slaves to no one!

“Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34)

             We sin by putting other things first before God. We misuse God’s name when we cuss and swear and when we use other phrases that have the same sinful intent like gosh darn. We don’t always keep the Sabbath Day. We aren’t always in Church or worshiping God and often we make excuses to not go to church. We often disobey our parents instead of honoring them. We murder others. Many take the lives of others through murder but many also murder the unborn and still others murder with their lips and thoughts. We commit adultery with others, we commit adultery when we look lustfully at another person whether its walking down the street, reading a magazine, looking at a calendar, or surfing the internet. We steal from others by taking what isn’t ours, cheating others of what they have, or finding means to get things that are untruthful. We speak badly about others, start rumors, and lie to make others look bad or make ourselves look better. We covet things that aren’t ours. We wish we lived in the bigger house; we wish we drove the nicer cars; we wish we wore better clothes. Yes, we are sinners and truly we are slaves to sin for we sin over and over and over.

             In a letter to his friend Philip Melanchthon on August 1, 1521, Luther wrote: "Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly...Pray boldly--you too are a mighty sinner." Luther doesn’t want you to sin and not care…but to follow your conscience boldly. Luther says this about Christians: “simul Justus et peccator” which means “at the same time saint and sinner.” But how do we go from being poor miserable sinners to being saints that sin boldly, believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly and pray boldly? How are we freed from the bondage of sin; from being slaves to sin?

             “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:35-36) “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-26)

             This is the heart of Lutheran Theology; the heart of our Theology: Justification by God’s grace alone. What is sad is that many do not know what Justification is. Justification is God’s declaration that we are innocent; forgiven for Jesus sake. An easy way to remember what justification is “just as if I didn’t do it.” Through Christ’s death and resurrection we are forgiven. But that doesn’t mean we can go and do whatever we want. It doesn’t mean that once saved always saved. It doesn’t mean we can ignore being in this place.

             During the memorable retreat of the French from Moscow, the soldiers froze to death by the hundreds. It is aid that at night they gathered together such combustible material as they could find and made a fire. Then, gathering round it as closely as possible, they lay down to sleep. In the morning, after a bitter night, those in the outer circles were found dead, frozen to death. They were too far away from the source of the heat. So the Christian’s strength in the warfare of life lies in close and constant communion with Christ by the means of grace. To withdraw from them may—and will eventually—prove fatal.

             My brothers and sisters in Christ you have been given the wonderful gift of faith in Baptism. You have been declared righteous; forgiven; innocent through Jesus by your Heavenly Father. Here in this place you receive that guarantee the very body and blood of Christ given and shed for you. Receive the forgiveness of sins. Receive strength for this and every day. Come and share in Christ Jesus your Lord.

             “Let me not doubt, but trust in Thee, Thy Word cannot be broken; Thy call rings out, “Come unto Me!” No falsehood hast Thou spoken. Baptized into Thy precious name, My faith cannot be put to shame, And I shall never perish.” Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Scripture...is useful!

Pentecost 22, 2010

“Scripture…is useful!”

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

            The Bible is an important book. When Chief Justice John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was dying he was asked if he had any farewell address to leave to his children. His response was “They have the Bible.” Dr. William Lyon Phelps, professor of English Literature at Yale said, “I thoroughly believe in a university education for both men and women, but I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a college course without the Bible. Every one who has a thorough knowledge of the Bible may truly be called educated, and no other learning or culture, no matter how extensive or elegant, can form a proper substitute.”

            “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

            Did you hear that? Scripture is useful!!! My brothers and sisters in Christ it may seem painfully obvious but we are charged as Christians to continue having faith in God’s Word as we have been taught. We are to do this because it is God-breathed, that is it is God’s very own Word, and it is a Word that creates faith, is useful for teaching, rebuking, and correcting so that man may be equipped for every good work…life itself. That certainly sounds very useful indeed.

            How remarkable it is that we have been given the very thoughts and words of God. How amazing it is that in our very hands we may hold the Word of God that creates and sustains faith. How incredible it is to have a Book that contains God’s truth. You may be thinking to yourself, “Pastor… we get it. It’s the Bible. It’s important. We know.” But do we really know how important the Bible is? One would expect… well… in today’s world… one would hope that Christians hold that the Bible is important because it is the very Word of God. But that’s often not the case. Listen to Paul’s charge to Timothy:

            “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

            The time has come…and it is a saddening time…that people today do not put up with sound doctrine and do gather around them Pastors that tell them what their itching ears want to hear. People today have turned their ears away from God’s truth, found in Scripture, and instead have turned to myths. Yes, it is that bad!

            There are many church bodies today that cast aside God’s Word that calls homosexuality a sin and ordain and marry homosexual men and women. There are church bodies today that call the Bible and Paul’s letters outdated and ignore that God’s Word says that Pastors will be the husbands of one wife; that Pastors are to be men only. There are many church bodies today that say that the Bible merely contains God’s Word…not that the Bible is God’s Word. There are churches that deny that the Bible is inerrant and that the Gospel alone saves apart from good works. And we say… “thank God we are Missouri Synod Lutherans.”

            I do indeed thank God that I am a Missouri Synod Lutheran and that there is a Missouri Synod. What a blessing our sound doctrine is! But that being said we as Christians don’t live a life that shows the importance of Scripture. In a world where the Bible is mocked and ridiculed, in a public educational system where creation is abhorred, in a country where abortions number the millions, in a world where genocide is a normal every day occurrence…what are we doing? We have become Biblically illiterate. Not only do our children not know the old Biblical stories but many adults don’t know them either. What happened with Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, Noah and the flood, Jonah and the whale, Daniel in the Lions den…on and on.

            When our lives are in turmoil…when loved ones die unexpectedly, when murders touch our community, when we lose our jobs, when life starts to beat us down…where do we turn to? As our children grow up watching us and how we respond to the pressures, the anxiety, the stress, the sin of this world…what do they see?

            They see that the answer to all of this…is that for many…we aren’t in God’s Word. Our children also aren’t in God’s Word. How saddening this is and should be for all of us. God has given us His Word of Law and Gospel, of Hope and Truth…but so often we ignore it as if it was just any old book. But the Bible isn’t just any old book…the Bible is Gods very own Word. And it is a Word of promise…the promise of Love, Truth, and Hope. Hear again God’s Word for you.

            “As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18) “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:1-8)

            Did you hear all that? All of that…and so much more…is found in the Bible. This is God’s Word and it was written for you. It was written that you may have faith in Christ. It was written that you may have hope in the resurrection and life everlasting. It is God’s Word and it shares His wonderful plan of salvation for you and your children.

            “Lord keep us steadfast in your Word; curb those who by deceit or sword would wrest the kingdom from your Son and bring to nought all he has done.” (LW 334) Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Heal the sick

Pentecost 21, 2010

Luke 17:11-19

“Heal the sick”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

            Isn’t it a wonderful feeling being able to help others? Whether you are helping a friend move, helping your parents around the house, giving money to a worthy cause or donating food for the hungry; it’s a wonderful feeling to help others. What can be even more gratifying is knowing that you and your help are appreciated. But many times people don’t say thank you. Many times people expect you to help and take it for-granted. Ingratitude is one of the biggest reasons people stop helping others. Ingratitude hurts all who are in need of our help. Ingratitude hardens our heart.

            In our Gospel lesson Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem. Jesus had done this many times before but this time was different…this time Jesus was going to Jerusalem for the last time. This time…Jesus would die. “Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’” (Luke 17:11-13)

            These men had been shunned by their community. They were not allowed to enter the town or to approach anyone that was clean. These men were in a pitiful condition. Leprosy was rarely cured in those days. It was a fatal disease, a disease that causes skin legions, nerve damage, nose bleeds, and damage to limbs and the eyes. For many it was a disturbing and disgusting sight to see. The community feared its spread and wanted nothing to do with these people as long as they were infected.

            The men had no hope. Yet they saw and recognized Jesus coming into town. They knew that he was powerful…that he had performed miracles for others…and cried out to him “Master.” If there was one person that might be able to help them it would be this Jesus. Their cries were cries of pain and sorrow and something they had lost…but now had...a slight glimmer of hope. But they wouldn’t have known that Jesus was on his way to die. They wouldn’t have thought that he might have had more important things on his mind than to help them. But Jesus always has time to help his people.

            “When he saw them, he said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17:14) Here we see Jesus humanity. The cry of these lepers attracted Jesus’ attention. It is then that we see the divinity of Jesus. Jesus command to “Go” contained the promise that they would be healed. Jesus gave healing to the body and sent them to be declared clean by the priests as was the custom.

            “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising his God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” (Luke 17:15) The Samaritan came back to praise his God. All of them were of the Jewish faith. But there was a big difference; while Samaritans claimed to be of Jewish origin, Jews rejected them as having a completely different and unacceptable belief and ethnicity. But it was this man…a Samaritan man…that came back to praise his Lord.

            “Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?’” (Luke 17:17) Jesus was disappointed that nine of them did not give thanks. Many think that Jesus should not have expected them to return, after all Jesus told them to “Go,” he never told them to come back. But that misses out on who it was that sent them. It was the Lord who sent them. The Lord Jesus has a perfect right to expect thanks and praise from the person who has received His help.

            Luther says this about the Samaritan in our text: “That is true worship: to return and praise God with a loud voice, which is the greatest work in heaven and in earth, the only thing we can show God. Anything else we dare not, are not even capable of it, but He loves to be loved and be praised by us…How few there are that return, hardly one out of ten!”

            “Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:18) The others did not give glory to God; that is they did not acknowledge the Giver for what He is. Even we are grieved when others do not acknowledge receipt of gifts. How much more should all of mankind give thanks for the exceptional gifts that God bestows upon us.

            How little do we really glorify God for our redemption and the many other gifts that God grants to us? How unappreciative are we as Christians? How often do we and others come begging to God because He is the only hope left…only to go on with our lives when things get better. Luther describes us all when he says that “When we hear that Christ has redeemed us with His blood, we are moved precisely as much as a dunce is moved when he hears that a hen has laid an egg. What kind of marvel is this; that happens every day. There is no joy, comfort, thanks, or wonderment when people hear of Christ’s suffering. Oh, that is nothing new! Who does not know that? And so the dear Christ with His precious blood and His immeasurable works of wonder must be considered a trifling matter…we pay precisely as much attention to God’s work as we do to the falling of a rotten apple from a tree.” (What Luther Says 4564)

            Here we are gathered in Church to receive the wonderful gifts of God: Forgiveness of our sins, strength for the day, and His Word. Indeed we know of what our Lord has done and continues to do for us. Over time they may seem to be ordinary…but they assuredly are not. Coming to church, Worship, is about what God does for us…and what God does for us is very remarkable. Jesus died that we would be forgiven. Jesus comes to us in His Word and in His very body and blood. Jesus offers us forgiveness of sins and strength to overcome this sinful world. These are miraculous gifts that are beyond our understanding. It is only after we have been forgiven and given these gifts that we are able to respond with thanksgiving to God.

            Thankfully God continues to give to all people whether they give thanks or not. By God’s grace we have been forgiven and Jesus promises to be with us always. While we may not always be faithful, while we might forget to give thanks, while we might withhold our help when we are not thanked…Jesus always is faithful, always forgives, always helps…Jesus will always love you and that will never change.

            Jesus cured the Samaritan not only of his bodily sickness, but saved him in the fullest sense of the word. Jesus saved this man of his spiritual sickness and saves each of us in this way as well. “Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19)

            Our Lord continues to tell us to Go. Go and make disciples of all nations. Go in peace; serve the Lord. Or as we hear in the words of this hymn: “Go, My children, with My blessing, Never alone. Waking, sleeping, I am with You; You are My own. In My love’s baptismal river I have made you Mine forever. Go, My children, with My blessing You are My own. Go, My children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure. Here you learned how much I love you, What I can cure. Here you heard My dear Son’s story; Here you touched Him, saw His glory. Go, My children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure. Go, My children, fed and nourished, Closer to Me; Grow in Love and love by serving, Joyful and free. Here My Spirit’s power filled you; Here His tender comfort stilled you. Go, My children, fed and nourished, Joyful and free. I the Lord will bless and keep you And give you peace; I the Lord will smile upon you And give you peace: I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother. Go, My children, I will keep you And give you peace.” To all of you who have and continue to help others; friends, family, neighbors, and those you don’t know; to those that help and support this church; to those who have helped and supported me…Thank You. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Confession is good for the soul

Pentecost 20, 2010

1 Timothy 6:6-16

“Confession is good for the soul”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

In ancient Egypt the Pharaohs and Queens were buried with an enormous amount of wealth. The Tomb of King Tut was found with a solid gold mask, gold figurines, vessels that held food and drink, weapons, and seeds to plant. He was buried with all they thought was needed for afterlife…including some of his living servants that were buried alive. Even in more modern times people are buried with strange possessions that they want after their death. Reuben John Smith who died in 1899 in Buffalo, NY was buried in his leather recliner with a checkerboard. Harry “The Horse” Flamburis, a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was buried with his Harley Davidson motorcycle in 1977. As recent as September 2009 Lonnie Holloway, a 90 year old of Saluda, SC was buried in his 1973 Catalina. Countless others have been buried with cars and possessions as well.

 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

These Words were written because people aren’t content with what they have. Not only was that true in the time of Paul and Timothy but it is true to this day. People aren’t content with what they have. How often are we tempted to want different things…and even after we have them want the new version…the upgraded version…the better version. My truck is beautiful but its 7 years old now. My computer works fine…but it isn’t fast enough for the newest games out there. We have a beautiful home…but wouldn’t it be nice to live on the lake, have some extra bedrooms, or a bigger garage. We could only afford a small diamond for the wedding ring…but now we can buy a 2 carat diamond ring to make up for it. How often do we judge and are judged by the things we own. Yet the truth is “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” (1 Timothy 6:7)

How sad it is that God’s Word continues to wring true: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10) How sad indeed…that Christians have lost their faith for the sake of money; wealth, prestige…or some other earthly lust. Woe to our sinful, wasteful, corrupt, greedy, and self centered society…of which many of us fall into.

In the midst of this world we are called as Christians to be something much different. “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:11-16)

Confession is good for the soul. But as far as our text is concerned the confession we are speaking of is the Confession of faith; a statement of what you believe. This morning as Andrew Mehrkens comes forward to be confirmed and makes his confession of faith we are reminded of our own confirmation and the confession we made and of course the promise we made before God.

Andrew…listen closely for this will be asked of you later…and fellow members remember when this was asked of you: “Do you intend faithfully to conform all your life to the divine Word, to be faithful in the use of God’s Word and sacraments, which are his means of grace, and in faith, word, and action to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?" The response is “I do so intend by the grace of God.”

How sad it is as a Pastor, a Christian, and fellow member of this congregation to know that there are many friends and family members that have made this promise…this confession…and have not been in these pews for ages. “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Maybe it isn’t just money that causes us to sin…maybe its sleeping in, having “family time”, working…or the like. How many of our loved ones have fallen from the faith.

Why is it that we continue to go to Church? Why is it that Confirmation is presumed to be graduation?…it isn’t the end of our Christian education! Like an athlete competing we must continue to exercise our faith. We need the nourishment of God’s Word and our Lord’s very body and blood. We need our sins forgiven and strength to overcome each day. We need brothers and sisters in Christ to lend an ear, pray for us, mourn with us, and rejoice with us. We need to “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)

My brothers and sisters in Christ faith was won for you on the cross by Christ our Lord. It is already yours! By the confession made at your Baptism, by the confession of faith you made at confirmation, by the confession of your faith in the creeds…confession is good for the soul because it is the confession of Christ as Lord; it is the confession of our sinfulness and God’s faithfulness. It is the confession of Christ’s birth, death on the cross, and Resurrection.

In this struggle of life be content with whatever the Lord gives you. Whether you are rich or poor in this world…it doesn’t matter. Whether you have the best job or not, whether you’re a great athlete or not, whether you are popular or not…your value to God is unspeakable and your riches are eternal life. They are yours for all eternity. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Pentecost 19, 2010

Luke 16:19-31

“Listen to His Word” 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

            In the movie “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” Ben Stein asked Richard Dawkins “What if after you died you ran into God and He said what have you been doing Richard I’ve been trying to be nice to you? I gave you a multimillion dollar paycheck over and over again with your book and look what you did.” Dawkins responded “Bertrand Russell had that point put to him he said something like “Sir, why did you take such pains hiding yourself.”

            The parable in our Gospel this morning is about two people that lived very different lives and ended up in very different places. How unfortunate death in this life is…and yet there is much to be learned from it. In a sense, “It’s too bad that dying is the last thing we do in this life, because it could teach us so much about living.”

            This morning we will dedicate All Saints Memorial Garden. We have much to learn from those who have died in the faith…most importantly purpose of life. Our Gospel lesson this morning really brings the purpose of this life into perspective.

            “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” (Luke 16:19-26)

            What is the meaning of life? Depending on who you ask…it could be many different things. Looking at our text there are just two meanings or purposes to life. You have the rich man that lives in luxury. He dresses in the finest clothes, has food to spare, and lived with all the luxuries life had to offer. He lived like like a modern day playboy. The purpose of life for the rich man was earthly pleasures and lusts.

            Then there was Lazarus. He was a poor man; a beggar and was left stranded by his friends outside the gate of the rich man’s home. Lazarus was covered with sores and longed to eat for the table scraps of the rich man’s table. His only company were stray dogs that came by and licked his wounds. Many people would say that Lazarus had no purpose in life. But his purpose…his meaning wasn’t found in what he owned or what his status was. His riches were not of this world…in fact his riches were in heaven.

            There is a story of a ship with about a hundred passengers that wrecked in a South Seas island. Fortunately, all lives were saved, together with sufficient food for several months’ existence and several sacks of seed for springtime planting. But the men had hardly reached shore when someone discovered gold. The men began to dig and pan furiously for gold, heaping it up for themselves and forgetting all about the seed and the need to plant and harvest. When the fall winds began to blow and the cold of winter settled on them, they died of hunger and starvation.

            How many there are these days who feverishly dig in the gold mines of this world, goaded wholly by greed and selfishness, forgetting all about God, His Word, His Church, and the needs of their soul, only to die the eternal death when the raw winds of life overtake them.

            Each and every one of us has temptations that seem we cannot overcome. Whether that temptation is food, alcohol, drugs, pornography, money, cars, work, status, or anything else…it is a temptation that looks like gold in a goldmine but leads only to condemnation. The rich man in our text had everything wanted in this life but didn’t have faith in Christ. We are reminded from our text “But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.” (Luke 16:25)

            The rich man didn’t understand what was going on…it was almost as if He didn’t think his loved ones would have a chance. Maybe the rich man is like Richard Dawkins that wonders why God kept himself hidden. “[The rich man] answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'” (Luke 16:27-31)

            The answer to the rich man almost seems harsh. “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:31) The Pharisees were in the crowd when Jesus spoke this parable. Often they would quote Father Abraham for their reasoning with Jesus. The Pharisees had the Old Testament…the books of Moses and the Prophets and even after Christ had risen from the dead…they would not believe.

            God does not hide from His people. He has given us the books of Moses and the Prophets as well as the Gospel and Epistles of His Apostles. God sent His Son, born of Mary…born a human like us…to die on the cross. Jesus comes to us in His very body and blood given and shed for you. We see God in His creation, we see God in the love shared by others, we have seen God’s love in those that have died in the faith. God continues to give us His Word. His Word gives life and faith, it gives strength and healing, it gives hope and joy. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

            God’s Word of Love for all mankind is this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) While you may not have the “riches” of this world…you have Christ and the riches of heaven itself. The promise is certain…for Christ has risen from the dead. He has risen that you, all your loved ones, and all who have died in the faith may have life everlasting. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.